e weapons
of yours that you speak about one bit. He seems pretty tough, and I
don't believe verses would do him any harm at all, however fine and
pointed they might be. So now, dear Amandus, you must just make up your
mind to be contented with your lot, like a good fellow, and not be
vexed with me that I am going to be a Queen instead of marrying you.
Never mind, I shall always be your affectionate friend, and if ever you
would like an appointment in the Carrot bodyguard, or (as you don't
care so much about fighting as about learning) in the Parsley Academy
or the Pumpkin Office, you have but to say the word and your fortune is
made. Farewell, and don't be vexed with

"Your former _fiancee_, but now friend and well-wisher, as well
as future Queen,
"ANNA VON ZABELTHAU.
"(but soon to be no more Von Zabelthau, but simply
ANNA.)

"P.S.--You shall always be kept well supplied with the very finest
Virginia tobacco, of that you need have no fear. As far as I can see
there won't be any smoking at my court, but I shall take care to have a
bed or two of Virginia tobacco planted not far from the throne, under
my own special care. This will further culture and morality, and my
little Daucus will no doubt have a statute specially enacted on the
subject."

CHAPTER V.

IN WHICH AN ACCOUNT IS GIVEN OF A FRIGHTFUL CATASTROPHE, AND WE PROCEED
WITH THE FUTURE COURSE OF EVENTS.

Fraeulein Aennchen had just finished her letter to Herr Amandus von
Nebelstern, when in came Herr Dapsul von Zabelthau and began, in the
bitterest grief and sorrow to say, "O, my daughter Anna, how shamefully
we are both deceived and betrayed! This miscreant who made me believe
he was Baron Porphyrio von Ockerodastes, known as Cordovanspitz, member
of a most illustrious family descended from the mighty gnome Tsilmenech
and the noble Abbess of Cordova--this miscreant, I say--learn it and
fall down insensible--_is_ indeed a gnome, but of that lowest of all
gnomish castes which has charge of the vegetables. The gnome Tsilmenech
was of the highest caste of all, that, namely, to which the care
of the diamonds is committed. Next comes the caste which has care
of the metals in the realms of the metal-king, and then follow the
flower-gnomes, who are lower in position, as depending on the sylphs.
But the lowest and most ignoble are the vegetable g